Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler is tagged out trying to steal third base by Indians third baseman Carlos Santana on April 17 at Comerica Park. / Julian H. Gonzalez/DFP

Written by

Matt Pelc

Detroit Free Press Special Writer

Matt Pelc is editor for the Detroit Tigers blog Motor City Bengals. His opinions do not necessarily reflect those of the Detroit Free Press nor its writers. Read his columns here most Tuesdays.

Itís been the same refrain for more than three years now. Itís been said by both Tigers fans and their detractors. Itís been noted as both a good thing and a bad thing, but like every tired talking point, it might be time to put the notion out to pasture.

Whatís this notion? That the Tigers are lucky they play in the American League Central.

First of all, this is not fair to the Tigers. Itís as if their success since the start of 2011 somehow deserves an asterisk because their division rivals have been unable to mount a legitimate threat to their three-time AL Central crown.

Yet if the Tigers had benefited only from winning a weak division from 2011 to 2013, they would have made a quick exit from the postseason against better opponents. While they currently have one glaring hole on their resume ó a world championship ó winning four playoff rounds over the last three seasons is nothing to sneeze at.

This season, itís unfair for other reasons. The Tigers have had an uneven first month of 2014. Excessive days off, rainouts, bullpen meltdowns, injuries and a suspect offense have kept the Tigers from long winning streaks. Conversely, they have also stayed away from long losing skids and have stayed on top of the division by a game or two.

Each of their AL Central rivals has done likewise. Each has taken turns in second or last place, but theyíre all at or around .500.

Though itís only been one month, itís hard to think the division is going to be particularly bad or good. So itís unfair to anoint the Tigers division champions again because they have shown just as many flaws in April as their rivals.

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Take Kansas City. They havenít been able to really get it going in April, however they were nearly unbeatable near the end of 2013. Only a horrendous 8-20 May cost them from being a more legitimate wild-card contender. The fact that they finished with their best final record since 1989 and boasted the ALís best record after the All-Star break showed just how far they came after that start.

The Indians posted a 21-6 record in September last year, and largely because of that, earned their first postseason appearance since 2007. What cost them a shot at unseating the Tigers was the near statistical impossibility of a 4-15 record against Detroit. Imagine if that was a little more respectable, say around 8-11, they might have won the division. As it was, they finished just a game behind the Tigers

The White Sox held on to first place in the AL Central for much of the 2012 season until the Tigers woke up in the final month of the year and stole it away from them. Last year,they came close to losing 100 games. This year, the White Sox are in Year 2 of their rebuilding effort, however they are showing something they havenít had in a number of years: offensive pop. Led by Cuban exile and rookie Jose Abreuís 10 April homers, Chicago has been putting up all sorts of crazy numbers. Combine that with their decent starting pitching, led by perennial Cy Young candidate Chris Sale, the White Sox could be a wrench in the works for much of the season.

The Twins are still a few years away from contending, but they have good hitting and a solid bullpen which could give the Tigers, and other contenders, fits deep into the pennant race.

So while the Tigers have been unfairly marginalized in some circles for making the postseason three straight seasons, for this season at least, they are being unfairly lofted and given the benefit of the doubt that they will easily win the division despite their many, many issues.

The Tigers may ultimately finish on top of the AL Central again come October, but it should not surprise anyone if they do not.